Merry-go-round



May 6, 1969 Sheet Filed March 30, 1967 INVENTOR I I 4. 4 w 5 a rd Z Y Y A w W a u 4 H M W y 6, 1969 M. FIGURA 3,442,509

MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed Mar ch so, 196'? r. -/44 4Z F/G, f0

52 55/ 55 62 F 4 INVENTOR MICHAEL F/ 01/919 Q ATTORNEY M. FIGURA MERRY-GO-ROUND May 6, 1969 Sheet ,3 of3 Filed March 50, 1967 INVENTOR M/c/m El. F mum:

j! BY Wq United States Patent 3,442,509 MERRY-GO-ROUND Michael Figura, Bruce, Wis. 54819 Filed Mar. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 627,025 Int. Cl. A63g 1/10 U.S. Cl. 27243 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Relates to a portable merry-go-round having a motorized functionally driven turntable having a plurality of mounts on which riders may sit. Self-aligning bearings positioned in flanges align the platform with a supporting shaft. The mounts may move relative to the platform and the entire merry-go-round may move up and down on resilient legs. A musical device may be driven by rotation of the turntable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a merry-go-round, portable in size, and particularly adapted for use by younger children without fear of injury.

It is an object of thepresent invention to provide a merry-go-round which is driven by an electric motor preferably, although a gasoline engine could be utilized if desired, the merry-go-round having a platform, mounts such as horses positioned peripherally of the platform on which youthful riders may sit, friction means driven by the motor turning the platform, the horses or mounts preferably having an undulating motion, and a stable support for the merry-go-round preventing tilting or tipping when one or several riders are using the merry-go-round.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a merry-go-round combining a unique method of assembly whereby the device may be readily set up or as quickly knocked down.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a merry-go-round particularly suitable for use as an amusement device whereby it may be coin operated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a merry-go-round which is safe in operation because the device is readily stopped by resistance such as the falling off of a rider and his consequent engagement against the rotating turntable.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a merry-go-round which is free from the maintenance problems which are generally found in the usual devices of this type.

It has been found that while merry-go-rounds have been in use for a long time, that most merry-go-roundS are built to accommodate a large number of riders and accordingly require a large amount of power in order to drive or rotate them. The smaller types of merry-gorounds have not lent themselves in the past to a simple form of drive arrangement, and generally have proven to be rather unsatisfactory in many instances because of maintenance problems which occur when youthful riders use the devices without adequate supervision. Also, there has been a certain amount of danger prevalent in the usage of unsupervised merry-go-rounds, and it is an object of the present invention to avoid this difiiculty.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a 3,442,509 Patented May 6, 1969 merry-go-round which is adapted to be used with a muslcal device operated by rotation of the turntable.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a merry-go-round which is inexpensive, and is within the reach of families of relatively modest income.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and further advantages will be more fully described and detailed when taken in conjunction with the specification and drawings herein, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the merry-go-round.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the supporting structure of the merry-go-round.

FIGURE 3 is the cross-section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of typical leg construction.

FIGURE 5 is a view illustrating the relation of the motor and driving wheel.

FIGURE 6 is a crossasect ional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring arrangement of the timer, motor and drive motor.

FIGURE 8 is a view illustrating the self-centering hearing and shaft of my invention.

FIGURE 9 is a detail view illustrating the eccentric wheel providing undulating movement of the horses.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the bearing positioning flange.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIGURE 1 a merry-go-round generally numbered 10 is provided, the merry-go-round having a platform 12 which is adapted to be rotated in a manner to be further described. The platform 12 is supported rotatably on a shaft 14, rotatably encased in a sleeve 16 which will be further described. Tubular support members 18 as are illustrated in FIGURE 3 are provided to support mounts 20 on which youthful riders may sit. Where the mount 20 simulates a horse, reins 21 and hand bar 23 are provided in addition to a saddle 25.

Preferably, as may 'be observed in FIGURE 2, two tubular supports 18 are provided for each mount 20.

The platform 12 may be of any convenient height or diameter, but for purposes of portability it has been found that a diameter of some six to seven feet is preferable. The platform is preferably of steel which has been treated by paint or other suitable material in order to make it relatively waterproof.

As will be observed in FIGURE 3, the tubular support members 18 are connected to the sleeve 16 in any suitable manner such as by welding, for example, and extend substantially normal to the sleeve for a short distance before angling rather sharply upwardly so as to be fixed to the periphery of the platform as indicated at 22. The tubular supports then are again angled into a substantially vertical relationship as indicated by the broken away segment 24 illustrated in FIGURE 3. The mounts 20 are secured to the ends 26 of the supports 18 as previously indicated.

Undulating movement of the mounts may be procured as indicated in the view of FIGURE 3 by suspending the mounts upon a resilient suspension member 28 such as a spring secured in the tube 18 with a portion of the spring extending outwardly of the tubular support 18,

the inward end of the spring 30 being retained by a fastening member 32 such as a pin extending through the gtgbe 18 in engagement with the terminal end of the spring As illustrated in FIGURE 9 the tubular support member 18 may be modified at its upturned segment by providing an opening 34 at the end of the segment in which the shaft 36 may extend, the shaft 36 at its upper end 38 being secured to the mount and having at its lower end 40 a wheel 42. A wheel 42 has an eccentric aperture, the wheel 42 being secured to the shaft 36 by a bolt 44 in a Well known manner. A similar arrangement is used for both the front and back supports of the mount whereby as the wheels rotate the mount assumes a gentle rocking motion.

In usual usage, the merry-go-round is placed on a rather solid surface such as a concrete apron, large panel or similar supporting surface and the eccentric wheel arrangement is utilized. Alternatively, as is obvious, a track 45 may be used in which the wheels would travel but this is believed obvious and therefore has not been illustrated.

In the preferred construction, the shaft 14 is provided with a resilient base in the form of legs 46 as may be seen in FIGURE 2. A collar 48 is secured to the end 50 of the shaft 14 to which preferably a resilient bar 52 is se cured in any suitable manner such as by welding, for example, the bar 52 extending from the collar 48 to a point closely adjacent to the end 54 of the leg 46 as indicated at 56.

To prevent the merry-go-round from crawling along the ground when in motion, stop members 58 are provided which tend to resist lateral movement of the merry-ground. Conventionally, an annular rubber sleeve is slipped onto the legs 46 near the end 54. As the merry-go-round rotates, there is the up and down movement of the mounts, and this is increased to a certain amount by the resilient bar 52 as has been previously indicated. Additionally, the bar 52 serves as a strength member for the legs 46.

As may be observed in FIGURE 4, a leg 46 extends normal to the shaft 14 for a distance somewhat comparable to the support member 18 and then angles gradually downwardly toward the ground or supporting platform indicated by the line 60 where the leg once again turns to a horizontal position as indicated at 62.

As may be observed in FIGURE 8, the sleeve 16 is outwardly flared at its ends 64 and 66 to accept selfaligning bearings 68 and 70 which are secured in place relative to the end of the sleeves 64 and 66 by flanges 71 and 72. Bolts 74 secure the flanges 71 and 72 relative to the ends of the sleeve 16. As may be observed, at the upper end of the sleeve 16, the platform is secured to the flange 71 by the bolts 74 which extend through the flange, the sleeve end and the platform 12. The bearings 68 and 70 constantly align the shaft 14 relative to the sleeve 16 and the platform 12. While it would be possible to weld the ends of the sleeve 16 to the flanges, I prefer to use the bolt 74 and nut 75 since this enables the device to be readily assembled and disassembled as required.

As may be seen in FIGURE 2, braces such as 76 and 77 may extend beneath the platform 12 to connect with the support members 18 in any suitable manner such as by welding, preferably the juncture of the braces and the legs occurring adjacent the periphery of the platform 12.

As may be observed in FIGURES 3 and and 6 the manner of providing rotation of the platform is relatively simple. Conventionally, power is supplied from a A horsepower motor 78 having a shaft 80 having a gear reduction unit 82 in the well known manner which in turn rotates a shaft 94 having at its end a friction wheel 96. As such a motor and gear reduction arrangement are well known, it is not believed necessary to further describe it.

The motor 78 is mounted on a panel or frame 86 which is pivotally secured on a tubular standard 88 by a hinge The motor 78 is secured to the frame 86 by bolts or screws 92 and 98 which extend through the frame 86 into threaded recesses in the motor 78. A driving wheel 96 mounted on a shaft 94 driven by the motor 78 through the gear reduction unit 82 rotates against the turntable 12 as indicated at 100 to induce rotation of the turntable 12. The driving Wheel 96 frictionally engages against the turntable in a manner which will be understood. The driving wheel is urged into engagement against the turnatble 12 in a rather simple but eflicient manner.

To the frame 86 an L-shaped flange member 102 is secured. A second L-shaped flange 104 is secured to a mounting ring 106 in any suitable manner such as by welding. The mounting ring 106 will be further described subsequently. A spring 108 has its ends 110 and 112 secured to the flange 104 and a tension bolt 114 which extends through an aperture in the other L-shaped flange 102 where the end of the bolt is adjustably secured by a wing nut 116. As the wing nut 116 is threaded down on the bolt 114 the tension causes the driving wheel 96 to be urged more positively against the turntable 12. Accordingly, gradual wear of the driving wheel is easily accommodated.

The mounting ring 106 is a generally circular ring member of steel or other suitable material which is secured to the standard 88 in a fixed manner by means of brackets such as 119 and 121. Preferably four brackets are provided in 90 relationship, the brackets being socured at their ends to the mounting ring 106 and the standard 88.

In order to provide a musical accompaniment as the carousel rotates, I provide a musical accompaniment which may range from a simple music box to an organ accompaniment. However, for purposes of illustration as may be seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, a music box 118 is mounted by bolts 120, 122 which may be screws if preferred to a panel 124 suspended on an L-shaped flange 126 which is pivotally mounted on a hinge 128 to the standard 88 in a manner such as was previously described for the motor 78. A wheel 130 frictionally engages against the turntable so that rotation of the turntable induces rotation of the wheel. A shaft 132 On which the wheel is mounted has an annular toothed gear 134 intermediate the wheel 130 and the end of the shaft 136 which is mounted in a bearing in the panel 124. Gears 138 and 139 driven by the gear 134 drive a conventional music box arrangement.

A generally cylindrical cover 140 having a closed end 142 encloses the motor and music box from the elements and from tampering by the children riding the merry-goround. The cover 140 is secured to the standard 88 by a bolt 144 which extends through a coin operating box 146 and an aperture 148 in the end 142 of the cover 140.

As may be seen in FIGURE 7 when it is desired to provide coin operated control of the merry-go-round, the drive motor 78 is wired in connection with a timer motor 79 which is pre-set to operate for a certain time. Accordingly, when a coin is deposited through the chute 150, the coin causes activation of the timer motor which permits current to flow to the drive motor for a specified length of time during which the drive motor will cause the turnable 12 to rotate in a well known manner. Since the merry-go-round may be operated either with or without coined control, further description of this mechanism which is conventional is not believed necessary.

Detail of the connection ofthe cover to the standard is illustrated in FIGURE 6. FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the motor and music box relationship in the ring 106.

Preferably the horses are of rubber or similar soft material, the horses head 21 being provided with a handle 23 so that the youthful riders may hang on securely.

A saddle 25 is molded on the horse to provide a realistic mount.

As has been indicated, the motor moves the turntable with a direct drive, and due to the friction relation of the driving wheel to the turntable, Simple trouble free operation is the result.

The unit is designed for outdoor use, and accordingly, the exposed parts are weatherproofed by painting or other suitable protective coatings.

Obviously the merry-go-round may be fastened to the floor or other supporting surface in a fixed manner such as by bolting it to the floor, but this is obviously not necessary. If desired a canopy may be suspended above the merry-go-round or carousel by providing posts or standards connected to the platform or turntable which extend upwardly a uniform height and to which a canopy is secured in a conventional manner.

The device has proven to be trouble free in operation and additionally is extremely safe. Both starting and stopping is relatively soft or gentle, and because of the friction drive of the turntable, only a relatively small amount of dragging is required to stop rotation of the turntable. Actually, the turntable may be stopped by merely placing one hand upon it. Therefore, it is inconceivable-that a child could be dragged or hurt as is common with other types of merry-go-r-ounds. Since the device is quite low to the ground, actually not any higher than a chair seat, falls from the horses do not constitute a problem. The device is extremely sturdy and will carry adults, but ohviously the mounts are not normally built for adults.

It would be further obvious that while I have illustrated a merry-go-round and carousel which is used for a trio of horses, nevertheless I have found that a greater number of mounts or a lesser number may be provided. Alternatively, seats may be provided in lieu of the horses if desired.

Accordingly it will be understood that the platform or turntable 12 is free to rotate upon the shaft 14 upon which it is rotatably suspended. The motor which is fixed in relationship to the shaft 14 drives the wheel 96 to 1nduce rotation of the turntable which also induces the music device to play as the friction wheel 130 is rotated by the rotation of the turntable 12.

As the supply of current to the motor is done 1n a conventional manner, such has not been illustrated.

FIGURE generally indicates a flange 73 as more particularly indicated at 71 and 72.

I have described the principles of construction and operation of a merry-go-round, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A merry-go-round comprlslng:

a generally circular turntable having a central aperture therethrough adapted to receive an aligning bearmg,

a vertical cylindrical shaft having spaced self-aligning bearings,

one said bearing rotatably mounted in said turntable central aperture, 0

a flange having a central bearing opening mounted 1n registered relation to said turntable aperture and said one bearing,

a tubular housing enclosing said shaft between said turntable and the other said bearing,

said housing having generally circular outwardly flared ends to provide bearing receiving recesses,

means securing said turntable, flange and one outwardly flared end in registered relation,

a second flange similar to said first flange rotatably securing said other said bearing in the other flared end of said housing,

a plurality of radically spaced legs extending outwardly and downwardly from said shaft adjacent said other bearing whereby said other bearing is suspended above the ground or other surface on which said merry-go-round resides,

a plurality of resilient members corresponding in number to said legs including spring bars having one end secured adjacent to the lower extremity of said shaft and extending in generally parallel underlying spaced relation to said legs, the other end of said bars secured to said legs adjacent the ends of said egs,

a stationary motor fixed with respect to said shaft having a rotatable drive shaft extending substantially parallel to said turntable, mounted above the upper surface of said turntable,

a driving wheel mounted on said shaft frictionally engaging the upper surface of said turntable whereby rotation of said driving wheel induces rotaton of said turntable.

a plurality of tubular mount supports extending outwardly and upwardly of said turntable in radially spaced relation secured to said turntable,

mounts secured on end extremities of said supports movable relative to the said turntable and in conjunction with said turntable.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said substantial portion of said upwardly extending supports are substantially normal to said turntable, a spring member mounted in the said end extremity of each said support having an end portion extending beyond said support, said end portion of said spring members secured to said mounts, whereby movement of said turntable causes said mounts to move with said turntable and also to yaw and pitch relative to said turntable.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which resilient frictional stop members are secured adjacent the ends of said legs in contact with the surface on which said merrygo-round resides whereby said merry-go-round remains substantially stationary with regard to movement across said surface.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which a rotatable second shaft extends substantially parallel to said turntable upper surface, a driven wheel rotatably secured on one end of said second shaft in frictionally engaging relation to said turntable upper surface, a roll-type music box mounted in spaced relation to said driven wheel, gears connecting said music box and said second shaft whereby rotation of said driven wheel by said rotating turntable is adapted to rotate said gears to cause said music box to play.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which a substantial portion of said upwardly extending tubular supports are substantially normal to said turntable, an aperture in the bottom portion of and in axial alignment with the substantially normal portion of each of said tubular supports, a shaft slidable in the normal portion of each of said supports through the aperture of a length adapted to extend adjacent the surface on which said merry-goround is supported and above the end extremity of said tubular support, an eccentric wheel rotatably secured on the lower end of each said shaft, said mounts secured on the other end of said shafts whereby rotation of said turntable induces up and down movement of said mounts.

6. The structure of claim 5 and in which said supports and shafts extend in spacedly paired relation, one shaft of each said pair supporting substantially one-half of a said mount whereby said each said half is adapted to move up and down in sequential relation.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which each said mount simulates a horse.

8. The structure of claim 2 and in which said supports are in spacedly paired relation, one support of each said pair supporting substantially one-half of said mount comprising a simulated horse.

9. The structure of claim 5 and in which a rotatable second shaft extends substantially parallel to said turntable upper surface, a driven wheel rotatably secured on one end of said second shaft in frictionally engaging relation to said turntable upper surface, a roll-type music box mounted in spaced relation to said driven wheel, gears connecting said music box and said second shaft whereby rotation of said driven wheel by said rotating turntable is adapted to rotate said gears to cause said music box to play.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1911 Degenhardt 27248 12/ 1958 Keefer et al 27243 6/ 1965 Cottrell et al 27231 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

